Front loader for a working vehicle and a working vehicle

Abstract

The invention relates to a front loader ( 10 ) comprising: at least one fastening arrangement ( 12 ) connectable to a working vehicle ( 1 ); at least one loader arm ( 20 ) with a first part ( 21 ) and a second part ( 22 ) connected via a knee section ( 23 ), the first part ( 21 ) being pivotally connected to the fastening arrangement ( 12 ) at a pivot point (P 1 ); a tool attachment ( 14 ) device connected to the second part ( 22 ) of the at least one loader arm ( 20 ); at least one tilting cylinder ( 16 ) connected to the tool attachment device ( 14 ) and to a knee link ( 30 ) arranged at the knee section ( 23 ), wherein the knee link ( 30 ) comprises a first attachment point ( 31 ) for connection with the tilting cylinder ( 16 ), a second attachment point ( 32 ) for connection with the loader arm ( 20 ), and a third attachment point ( 33 ) for connection to a mechanical self-levelling device ( 50 ), wherein the knee link ( 30 ) is arranged at the knee section ( 23 ), such that the first attachment point ( 31 ) is essentially aligned with or below an upper end ( 24 ) of the first part ( 21 ) of the loader arm ( 20 ).

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. A front loader ( 10 ) for a working vehicle ( 1 ), the front loader ( 10 ) comprising:
 at least one fastening arrangement ( 12 ) connectable to the working vehicle ( 1 ); 
 at least one loader arm ( 20 ) with a first part ( 21 ) and a second part ( 22 ) connected via a knee section ( 23 ), the first part ( 21 ) being pivotally connected to the fastening arrangement ( 12 ) at a pivot point (P 1 ); 
 a tool attachment ( 14 ) device connected to the second part ( 22 ) of the at least one loader arm ( 20 ); 
 at least one tilting cylinder ( 16 ) connected to the tool attachment device ( 14 ) and to a knee link ( 30 ) arranged at the knee section ( 23 ) of the at least one loader arm ( 20 ), 
 wherein the knee link ( 30 ) comprises a first attachment point ( 31 ) for connection with the tilting cylinder ( 16 ), a second attachment point ( 32 ) for connection with the loader arm ( 20 ), and a third attachment point ( 33 ) for connection to a mechanical self-levelling device ( 50 ) configured to be arranged externally of the loader arm ( 20 ) and to be connected to the fastening arrangement ( 12 ) at a point positioned above the pivot point (P 1 ) of the loader arm ( 20 ), wherein the knee link ( 30 ) is arranged at the knee section ( 23 ), such that the first attachment point ( 31 ) is essentially aligned with or below an upper end ( 24 ) of the first part ( 21 ) of the loader arm ( 20 ) at a point where the knee link ( 30 ) is coupled to the first part ( 21 ) and wherein the third attachment point ( 33 ) is positioned below the upper end ( 24 ) of the first part ( 21 ) of the loader arm ( 20 ) at the point where the knee link ( 30 ) is coupled to the first part ( 21 ). 
 
     
     
       2. The front loader ( 10 ) according to  claim 1 , wherein the second attachment point ( 32 ) is positioned below the pivot point (P 1 ) of the loader arm ( 20 ) when the loader arm ( 20 ) is in a lowered position. 
     
     
       3. The front loader ( 10 ) according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 the mechanical self-levelling device ( 50 ) connected to the knee link ( 30 ) at the third attachment point ( 33 ), 
 wherein the self-levelling device ( 50 ) is arranged externally of the loader arm ( 20 ) and is connected to the fastening arrangement ( 12 ) at a connection point (P 2 ) positioned above the pivot point (P 1 ) of the loader arm ( 20 ). 
 
     
     
       4. The front loader ( 10 ) according to  claim 3 , wherein the self-levelling device ( 50 ) comprises at least one strut ( 52 ) configured to at least partly cover the upper end ( 24 ) of the first part ( 21 ) of the loader arm ( 20 ), wherein the strut ( 52 ) comprises an opening ( 56 ) at a first end ( 53 ) connected to the knee link ( 30 ). 
     
     
       5. The front loader ( 10 ) according to  claim 4 , wherein the strut ( 52 ) has an essentially u-shaped cross-section and comprises a top wall ( 57 ) and two side walls ( 58 ), wherein the opening ( 56 ) is formed in the top wall ( 57 ) at the first end ( 53 ) of the strut ( 52 ). 
     
     
       6. The front loader ( 10 ) according to any one of  claim 5 , further comprising
 a reinforcement device ( 70 ) for the connection between the mechanical self-levelling device ( 50 ) and the knee link ( 30 ). 
 
     
     
       7. The front loader ( 10 ) according to  claim 6 , wherein the reinforcement device ( 70 ) comprises two reinforcement elements ( 72 ) extending on opposite sides of the first end ( 53 ) of the strut ( 52 ). 
     
     
       8. The front loader ( 10 ) according to  claim 7 , wherein the reinforcement elements ( 72 ) form part of the knee link ( 30 ). 
     
     
       9. The front loader ( 10 ) according to  claim 8 , wherein the self-levelling device ( 50 ) is arranged, such that the third attachment point ( 33 ) is positioned below the connection point (P 2 ) to the fastening arrangement ( 12 ). 
     
     
       10. A working vehicle ( 1 ), comprising the front loader ( 10 ) of  claim 1 .